Bridge Road x Brunswick Bitters Co Mayday Hills Gruit

The funk-led Mayday Hills series by Bridge Road has always been about championing Beechworth and its surrounding region. Gruit has seen the brewery partner with another local champion in Beechworth Bitters Co; a delicious lockdown project started by chef Michael Ryan from the excellent Provenance.

The Gruit harkens back to a time before hops were added to beer, with the ancient style using a range of bittering agents and botanicals over those little green flowers we know and love. It saw the brewery draw from Michael’s extensive mix of bittering extracts make a beer that is one perfect apertif. Firstly, that’s thanks to its 3.9 percent ABV but beyond booze level, the complex yet refreshing profile couldn’t be more suited to olives, some cured meats, excellent cheese and (hopefully) fantastic conversation. The broad herbal mix and a clean side of citrus zest make for something that’s a little like an amaro or other Italian liquor but the beer’s light body and dryness also ensure quite a lean affair and the slight sourness continually refreshes the palate after each sip.

Will Ziebell

Published September 1, 2023 2023-09-01 00:00:00